Yeobowlers Strike Out at Kent State

The Yeobowlers traveled to Kent State last weekend to face off against bowling teams from around the region in the annual ACUI tournament. The men's and women's teams competed, coming in sixth and third, respectively. The tournament also included table tennis, chess, table soccer, video games and billiards.

In the Bowling Event, the University of Cincinnati won the men's division, and Michigan State took the women's. "Most Oberlin teams don't even compete against these schools," coach Tom Reid said, "and we would have dusted any teams from the NCAC, who should feel free to take that as a challenge."

But the tournament wasn't a total disappoinment. Senior Jonathan Stoper rolled a 246 to start off the tournament, which was good enough to start in second place. "My lack of bowling ability didn't seem to matter." he said. "Still, it was nice for everyone to think I didn't suck, if only for a brief moment."

Stoper's inability to throw consistently caught up with him, as his three-game series totaled 630, only good enough for 17th in the individual standings. His bowling soon degenerated further, and by the end he had dropped to the bottom half of the standings.

On a bright note, senior Anne Clair Goodman rolled a perfect 900 series, though it took a few more than the traditional three games. "In Oberlin, we like to be unique, even if it has to be in our scoring" said Goodman. "At least she made the rest of us look pathetic in comparison," said Stoper of Goodman's performance.

"I didn't sleep or eat for three days prior to the tournament," senior Adam Fuller said, "but my lack of skill was to blame for my poor bowling, not my stamina. At least I didn't feel the need to kill myself afterwards."

"I think I could have crushed everyone in the table tennis division of the tournament," he later added.

For senior Ali McDowell, the highlight of the tournament was her team's victory over their male counterparts. "My proudest moment was when we mercilessly crushed the men's team by countless pins," she said. "That, and when the blond kid from Toledo offered to do a strip tease for us if Anne Clair got the 7-10 split."

After the trip, senior Ben Fried had gained a new respect for the aesthetics of the Oberlin campus. "Seeing the Kent State campus made me appreciate Oberlin a lot more," he said.

The Yeobowlers were also grateful to their coach for the opportunity to participate in the event. "I'd really like to thank Tom Reid, without whom none of this would have been possible," McDowell said. "He not only made all the arrangements and drove us there, but provided advice that helped us throughout the event."

Three Oberlin students participated in the double-elimination nine-ball event. Unfortunately, all members of the team were eliminated on the first day. "While the billiard players were eliminated early on," said Reid, "the bowling event was less merciful in that everyone had to hang in there 'till the end, which we did well. I'm proud of them for that."

Next on the horizon for the Yeobowlers is a home tournament, which is still in the planning phase. They are hoping to face some NCAC opponents, and, along the way, pick up some victories.

Jonathan Stoper is the treasurer of the men's bowling team.